Jeff Mills coughs up one of his finest - and our all time faves - with re-cut of ‘If (We)’ plus select gems from the Axis catalogue. A stone cold percy since we first heard it on DJ Bone’s ‘Subject Detroit II’ mix circa 2001, the breathtaking mix of jazz scatting vocal and haunting choral pads in ‘If (We)’ has lost none of its capacity to hypnotise and send shivers down the spine, and now comes prefaced on this 12” with a short clip of Jeff chatting about the tune’s conception. Still, the track remains all too short, so we’d advise picking up two copies to extend the pleasure in-the-mix. Also worth mentioning that the others are all killer, neatly sequenced cuts that demonstrate Mills’ uncanny ability to balance futurism with feeling. The re-cut of “If (We)” sits perfectly between reverent edit and DJ-ready tool: the little intro of Jeff speaking about its origins is a lovely touch, humanising the machinery behind the music, while the tightened arrangement gives DJs the space to loop and breathe without losing the original’s spine-tingling drama.

The B-side selections deep-dive into the Axis catalogue’s darker, more percussive corners — stripped-back grooves, cavernous delays and those spectral choral motifs that have become a signature of Mills’ late-period work. Each tune is engineered for the floor yet rewards close listening; they’re raw enough for peak-time impact but musically sophisticated enough to sit comfortably in an ambient or headphone set. Audiophiles will also appreciate the warm, tactile pressing and the care taken with the dynamics.

If you loved the original “If (We),” this 12” is essential: part tribute, part tool, and entirely irresistible. DJs should indeed pick up two copies for extended play, while collectors and longtime Axis devotees will find it a worthy addition to the shelf. A rare instance of a reissue that feels both necessary and thrilling.

Axis Audiophile Series (180g vinyl / 44k 24bit recordings): All the tracks are remastered for the series.

Chapter 2:
A1 'As Soon As' taken from Time Mechanic 02 Eternity (TM002) (2008) remastered
A2 'G-Star' taken from Alpha Centauri (AX049) (2008) remastered
B1 'If (we)' taken from "If/Tango" (PM009) (1999) remastered
B2 "Cycle 30 - Loop 4" taken from Cycle 30 (AX008) (1994) remastered[info sheet from distr.]